This week we’re featuring something that will get your taste buds watering! We’re talking about the local restaurants in Chillicothe that offer the unique local flavor that visitors enjoy. When traveling, we all know that we can find the national chain restaurants close by but what many visitors are interested in discovering is the local flavor that they can’t get anywhere else.

As visitors stop into our Welcome Center, one of the most common questions asked before they leave the center is, “Where can we go for lunch?” What a difficult question to answer with all of the options! It does require more exploratory questions to help narrow down what type of food they’re in the mood for at the time.

In downtown Chillicothe you can find a little of everything from barbeque to waffles to gourmet pizza. Let’s explore what you can find in downtown starting with Old Canal Smokehouse. They are best known for their hickory smoked barbeque and their outside patio dining. While nearby The Dock At Water is known for their chicken wings grilled with a variety of sauces. You can usually find a local band playing on the weekends. Carl’s Townhouse is a unique retro diner offering daily specials that will definitely satisfy your hunger. This is a popular spot with locals and will be yours too. Crosskeys Tavern and 17 East offers the chance to visit an Irish bar where you can have a drink, enjoy a great meal, and get to see an up and coming local band. You can also find out about Harold, their resident ghost who is even featured on their website.

Some new additions to Chillicothe’s downtown include Fire & Stone Pizzeria and Fryin’ Hawaiian. Fire & Stone Pizzeria offers gourmet pizza baked in a stone hearth and will be a hit with the whole family. Speaking of pizza, though not located in the “historic district” and not a new establishment, we would be remiss to mention Jerry’s Pizza. It’s a legendary option that has been known to be so tempting that people make detours into Chillicothe for another chance to enjoy their pizza. Our newest eatery, Fryin’ Hawaiian, specializes in Belgian waffles along with sandwiches and ice cream. They offer outdoor dining or pickup your meal and walk across the street to Yoctangee Park to enjoy your food.

This is just a starting point of downtown dining options. There are plenty of other locations where you can find sandwiches, treats and coffee. To make it convenient for you, we’ve included Ross County local flavor dining options on our website under Where To Eat. You’ll find listings that go beyond downtown Chillicothe and include dining options around Chillicothe, Bainbridge, Frankfort and more.